JoDee Luna's Blog, page 3

The Gift a Nativity Poem

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas and holiday season.

The Knowing

I sit and write with Christmas lights twinkling around me. The Christmas trees’s reflections in our picture window reach to the sky, giving the appearance of doubles on the embankment.

All is still, so I listen and wait. 

Tasks for today creep into mind.

Hopes for tomorrow aren’t far behind.

I love Christmas with its celebrations, nativity scenes, angels, snow people, and Santas.

Yet, a yearning for something more seeps from my heart through the black pen with gold trim. 

Perhaps a purpose yet to be revealed?

A plan yet to be fulfilled?

A dream for the future yet to come?

We writers are an odd lot. Words often clog, causing consternation.

Words connected to something more we can’t see but somehow know is there…

waiting for us

beckoning “come!”

enticing anticipation. 

So, we still, listen, and wait…

for the knowing.

Tea House on Los Rios, San Juan Capistrano

If you’re looking for a delightful place to sup with family and friends, the Tea House on Los Rios in San Juan Capistrano is just the place. Here’s a video that highlights the Tea House’s favorite features:

Enter an enchanting tea house filled with delightful rooms and tea-themed decor.

Delectable food, a variety of teas to choose from, and eye candy everywhere you look!

Madelyn’s Salt Dough Cake and Fruit Basket

One of my favorite pastimes is making salt dough sculptures with my grandchildren. They delight in everything from mixing the dough to creating their masterpieces.

This video takes you through the step-by-step process we used to make a salt dough basket filled with fruit and a tiny cake.

Here’s a video with just the strawberry portion:

Check out my Salt Dough Sculpture Playlist for more tutorials:

If you’re in need of ongoing inspiration and encouragement, sign up for my email list and receive links to free resources: https://mailchi.mp/5210fe4b3ab8/artistry-unleashed-inspiration-and-resources-for-creatives

Don’t miss an edition of Artistry Unleashed: Inspiration and Resources for Creatives. 

Connect with me around the web: https://linktr.ee/jodeeluna

The Power of Words

Recently, I came across a post I’d written back in 2016 called “The Power of Words.”

Former posts often show up in my blog stats when someone, somehow finds them online. There’s always a reminder in them for me.

I’ve been missing my writing. My passion for art as well as just living life had drawn me away from my first love.

I decided to make a short video from this post, so I could watch and remember how important writing is for me.

I figured there were other writers out there who would also appreciate the reminder:

Here’s a link to former posts about writing:

The Power of Words

Returning to Writing

Masquerade Mask Decorating for Kids

Painting and decorating masks is a fun and easy activity for kids of all ages. Even my 3-year-old granddaughter can express her creativity with this art activity.

You can buy masquerade masks on Amazon or any arts and crafts store. Acrylic paints, glitter glue, glitter, and stickers are all the supplies you need.

Use these videos to help your children or grandchildren learn how to paint and decorate masks..

Here’s some additional posts that will show you how to make and decorate masquerade masks:

How to Decorate a Mixed Media Masquerade Mask

Masquerade Masks: Ideas for Decorating

If you’re in need of ongoing inspiration and encouragement, sign up for my email list and receive links to free resources: https://mailchi.mp/5210fe4b3ab8/artistry-unleashed-inspiration-and-resources-for-creatives

Don’t miss an edition of Artistry Unleashed: Inspiration and Resources for Creatives.

Connect with me around the web: https://linktr.ee/jodeeluna

How to Decorate a Mixed Media Masquerade Mask

Here’s a delightful art project that is easy and fun to do.

Supplies:

Masquerade masks: you can buy them at any arts and crafts store. I got mine on Amazon.
Acrylic paint
Regular Gel Medium Matt or Gloss
Sponge for applying gel and for applying paint
Card for smoothing
Scissors and exacto knife for trimming paper
Gems or jewels for accessorizing

Follow this step-by-step video to learn how to decorate a mixed media masquerade mask:

Here’s some links to other DIY Art tutorials:

If you’re in need of ongoing inspiration and encouragement, sign up for my email list and receive links to free resources: https://mailchi.mp/5210fe4b3ab8/artistry-unleashed-inspiration-and-resources-for-creatives

Don’t miss an edition of Artistry Unleashed: Inspiration and Resources for Creatives. 

Connect with me around the web: https://linktr.ee/jodeeluna

Bluebird Song and Painting Published

Bluebird is finally published. Deborah Hanson’s song is the perfect match for my painting. Her song starts soulful and ends joyful. Bluebird is on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

Bluebird envisions hope, faith, and perseverance amid hopelessness, despair, and depression. 

Bluebirds are known for their joyful songs, tendency to fly long distances, and ability to survive in the most difficult of surroundings. These qualities have led bluebirds to be used in religious icons and as symbols of peace. 

This bird, painting, and song will encourage you to trust that a new day is dawning. You can emerge triumphant and discover the grace of God needed to pursue your destiny.

If you’re in need of ongoing inspiration and encouragement, sign up for my email list and receive links to free resources: https://mailchi.mp/5210fe4b3ab8/artistry-unleashed-inspiration-and-resources-for-creatives

Don’t miss an edition of Artistry Unleashed: Inspiration and Resources for Creatives.

Artistry Unleashed: Inspiration and Resources for Creatives

Artistry Unleashed is a mini magazine for creatives who want to develop talents and use those talents to make a difference in their world.

Artistic types in need of encouragement, inspiration, and helpful tips for making art easy, writing flow, or crafting creative. The mini-magazine is an interactive pdf with live links to resources. Preview a few of the pages:

Go to Artistry Unleashed to download your free copy.

Subscribe to my email list so you don’t miss an issue: https://mailchi.mp/5210fe4b3ab8/artistry-unleashed-inspiration-and-resources-for-creatives

La Petite Rose, Poem, Song, and Painting Collaboration

Something beautiful was born when the synergy of several creatives converged: La Petite Rose.

This art song captures a young boy’s delight in God’s masterful creation of a perfect rose.

This enchanting song began as a poem created by Mary A. Hannon.

Mary A. Hannon served as writer, editor and publisher of Piano Forte, a newsletter for pianists and music lovers. She also edited and published Piano Talk, Conversations with Stewart Gordon and edited a collection titled Charles Fierro In His Own Words. Mary is a board member of Piano Spheres and consults with individuals and organizations on the publication of newsletters and printed programs.

Deborah Keily Hanson composed music to accompany the words, and Jeff Hanson, Deborah’s husband, sings the vocal.

Deborah Keily Hanson has a diverse musical background. An accomplished musician, teacher, and performer,  she has performed solo recitals, accompanied soloists from the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera, performed at the Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival in Jamaica, accompanied musical theater groups locally and with the Los Angeles Opera Musical Theater Company. You can read more about Deborah on her website: http://www.hmspiano.com/bio.html

Deborah invited me to paint La Petite Rose to grace the album cover:

Visit Deborah’s website to find out more about this amazing song and to access the various links to the music: http://www.hmspiano.com

Here’s links to the sheet music and song on various platforms:

Spotify:

iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/deborah-keily-hanson/467217693

YouTube:

Here’s a process video of the painting with the instrumental version of the song: